Starting system for automobiles



Apr. 10, 1923 1,451,550

w. P. LOUDON STARTING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Apr. 14, 1920 WITNESSES: INVENTOR 1 Warren/ L oudan --BY 73- 744/40 W Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,451,550 PATENT orsrcs.

WARREN P. LOUDON, OI EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA- STARTING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed April 14, 1920.. Serial No. 373,742.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WARREN P. Lennon,- a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Starting Systems for Automobiles, of which the following is a specific ation.

My invention relates to starting systems engine gear wheel, it is necessary not only to rotate the starting motor before meshing the pinion with the engine gear wheel, in order to -prevent clashing of the teeth, but also to limit the speed of the motor before meshing the pinion with the gear wheel. Moreover, it is very desirable to prevent operation of the starting motor when the engine of the automobile is .in operation.

In a starting system constructed in accordance with my invention, the motor is connected in series with a resistor in order to prevent operation of the motor above a predetermined speed and, upon engagement of the motor pinion with the engine gear wheel, a short circuit is established through such members to exclude the resistor from the motor circuit. The generator, which is operated by the'automobiie engine, is connected in circuit with the starting motor and when the engine is operating at a prede termined speed, the generator opposes any flow of current from the battery through the starting motor.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view of a starting system constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawing, a starting motor 1, comprising an armature 2 and a fieldmagnet winding 3, is provided for operating of the ginion 4 when the motor 1 is acceler I ated. he shaft 5 is'provided with insulated bearings 7-for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. The pinion 4 co-operates with an engine gear wheel 8 which is directly connected to the internal-combustion engine. A battery 9 is provided for energizing the starting motor 1, and a starting switch 10 is provided for connecting the .motor in series with the battery 9-and a resistor 11.

A generator 12, comprising an armature 13 i and a field-magnet winding 14, is controlled by a cutout switch 15 for charging the battery 9.

he cutout switch 15 comprises a U-shaped magnetic frame 16 having a core member 17 centrally mounted upon it. A coil 18 is mounted upon the core 17 and is connected across the armature. 13 in order to operate the cutout switch in accordance with the generator voltage. An armature 19, which is controlled by the moving a movable contact member 20 into engagement With a stationary contact member 21. A spring member 22 is provided for normally biasing the movable contact member 20 away from the stationary contact member 21.

If it isdesired to operate the starting motor 1 for starting the internal-combustion coil 18, is provided for engine, the switch 10 is closed and a circuit r is completed from the battery 9 through and the armature 18 of the generator 12, to ground. The starting motor 1 is operated at a relatively low speed by reason of the resistor 11 which is ineiuded in its energizing circuit. The inertia of the pinion i prevents it from acceierating with the motor 1 and, consequently, the screw threads 6 move the pinion into mesh with the engine gear wheel 8. Upon engagement of the pinion with the gear wheei, a circuit is completed from the battery 9 through the switch 10, starting motor 1, shaft 5, pinion i, and the engine gear wheel 8, to ground. Thus, resistor 11 is short-circuited and the motor 1 c in operation, no energization of the start-' tion under its own power, the screw threads 6 serve to move the pinion 4 out of mesh' opposes any flow of current from the battery 9 through the motor. Thus, if the engine is ing motor 1 is effected even if the starting switch 10 is accidentally operated.

Vhen the generator 12 is in operation, the

- coil 18 is energized to operate the armature 19 and to effect engagement between the contact members 20 and21. A circuit is then completed from the generator for charging the battery 9. o

In the system above described, the motor 1 is operated at low speed until the pinion meshes with the engine gear wheel and, an? toma-tically, upon such engagement, the starting motor is accelerated to full speed.

Moreover, the generator is so connected as to oppose any flow of current from the battery through the starting motor when the engine is in operation.

Modifications in the system and arrangement and location of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my'invention and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a starting system, the combination with a starting motor, an engine gear wheel, a motor pinion movable axially into mesh with the engine gear wheel,.and aresistor connected in series with said motor, of means for electrically connecting said motor to said gear wheel upon engagement therewith by the pinion to short-circuit'said resistor. 2. In a starting system, the'combination with a starting motor, a motor pinion, an

engine gear wheel, a resistor electrically connected to said pinion and electrical connections for said gear wheel whereby the resistor is automatically excluded from circuit upon engagement between the pinion and the gear wheel.

In a starting system, the combination with a motor having a pinion automatically controlled thereby, an engine gear wheel, and a resistor, of means for connecting said motor in series with the resistor whereby said pinion is actuated into engagement with the engine gear wheel and for short-circuiting said resistor through the pinion and gear wheel upon engagement of such members.

4. In a starting system, the combination with a starting motor, a pinion automatically actuated int-o operative position by said motor, an engine gear wheel, a resistor, a source of energy, and a generator, of means for connecting said motor in series with said source of energy, said resistor and said gen erator to effect the meshing of the-motor pinion with the engine gear wheel, and means for completing the motor circuit through said pinion and the engine gear wheel to short-circuit said resistor, and for connecting said generator in circuit to oppose operation of the motor-during operation of the generator.

5. In a starting system, the combination with an engine member, a member for coacting therewith, a motor and a resistor, of means for connecting said motor in series relation to said resistor, and means comprising said coacting members for automatically shunting said resistor upon the engagement of said members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 1st day of April,

WARREN P. LOUDON. 

